The Daughter of an Empress eBook

Look only forward, constantly forward, where the skies
are clear, and dream of happiness! Look forward—­no,
turn not backward your glance, for the horizon darkens
in your rear; misfortune is closely following upon
your track! You see it not, you only look forward
and still you smile.

It draws nearer and nearer, this black cloud of evil.
It is the ravens, the booty-scenting ravens who are
following you!

Look forward, dream yourselves happy, and smile yet.
What would it help you to look back! You cannot
escape the calamity.

Nearer and nearer, with a wild cry, rush these ravens
of misfortune; the air already bears detached sounds
to Anna’s ears.

She trembles. It is as if her boding soul scented
the approaching evil. Pressing her child closer
to her bosom, she gives her husband her hand.

The horses are attached to the sledge, and the soldiers
leave the public house. All is ready for the
train to go on over the boundary. The postilions
draw the rein! Now a wild cry of “Halt!
halt!”

The soldiers bear up, the postilions halt!

“Forward! forward!” shrieks Prince Ulrich,
in mortal anguish.

“Halt! in the name of the empress!” cried
an officer who came rushing past upon a foaming steed,
and he handed to the commander of the escort an open
writing, furnished with the imperial seal.

The commander turned to the postilions.

“To the right about, toward Riga!” ordered
he, and then, turning to the trembling princely pair,
he said: “In the name of the empress, you
are my prisoners! I am directed to conduct you
to the citadel of Riga!”

With a loud groan, Anna sinks into the arms of her
husband. He consoles her with the most soothing
and affectionate words; he has thought, sorrow, only
for her—­he feels not for himself, but only
for her.

For a moment Anna was overpowered by this unexpected
horror; then she calmly rose erect, and pressed her
son more closely to her bosom.